Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard chase down the loose ball during the second half of Game 4 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander corrals a loose ball in front of Indiana's Andrew Nembhard during the second half on Friday.Michael Conroy/Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter, and the Thunder rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit to beat the Pacers, 111-104, on Friday night and tie the NBA Finals at two games apiece.
Jalen Williams added 27, Alex Caruso had 20, and Chet Holmgren finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds for the Thunder. They did it the hard way — with a season-low three 3-pointers, and no assists from Gilgeous-Alexander for the first time all season.
Pascal Siakam scored 20 for Indiana, which got 18 from Tyrese Haliburton and 17 from Obi Toppin.
Game 5 of the series — essentially a best-of-three — is at Oklahoma City on Monday night, with the Thunder having reclaimed home-court advantage.
The Thunder basically saved a realistic chance at winning the title. Teams with a 3-1 series lead in the NBA Finals have gone on to win the championship 37 times in 38 chances. The Pacers looked well on their way to being the 39th before the Thunder found their game in the nick of time.
The MVP led the way, too. Gilgeous-Alexander had nine straight points down the stretch as the Thunder took control.
SGA GIVES OKC THEIR FIRST LEAD IN THE 2H 🤯
GET TO ABC NOW FOR GAME 4's ENDING!!! pic.twitter.com/wgldzo4uFy
— NBA (@NBA) June 14, 2025
The Pacers came out flying, scoring 20 points in the first 4:59 — only the second time all season Oklahoma City gave up so many so quickly. They led by as many as nine early, but were unable to pull away.
And things got chippy for the first time in the series: Toppin was called for a Flagrant 1 on Caruso midway through the second quarter, then Toppin was the recipient of a Flagrant 1 from Lu Dort just before the half. The Pacers closed on a 15-6 run, taking a 60-57 lead into the break.
Toppin’s baseline dunk late in the third put Indiana up, 86-76, its first double-digit lead of the series coming late in its 15th quarter. Back came OKC: A 13-3 run tied the game early in the fourth at 89, the first of a handful of those down the stretch.
Tied at 91. Tied at 95. Tied at 97.
Finally, the lead: Gilgeous-Alexander’s step-back with 2:23 left put the Thunder up, 104-103, their first lead of the second half. They kept it the rest of the way.